Growth Books List

Over the past couple of months, I've been slowly creating a list of books I would like to read that are centred on learning more about my loving, grace-filled Lord and how to be a better disciple for Him. This list started out with only a few books and has turned into a list of 47! I've written in my second 101 list that I want to read 50 of them - I'm still looking for 3 more that speak to me. Here is my (almost finished) list:

(6/47)
The Allure of Hope by Jan Meyers
A Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
Better Than My Dreams by Paula Rinehart
Boundaries in Dating by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend
Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge
Crazy Love by Francis Chan
Disciplines of a Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes
Drops like Stars by Rob Bell
Erasing Hell by Francis Chan
The Five Love Languages, Singles Edition by Gary D. Chapman
Forgotten God by Francis Chan
God in the Mirror by Miles McPherson
God is in the Small Stuff and it all Matters by Bruce Bickel & Stan Jantz
God is the Gospel by John Piper
God Loves Broken People by Sheila Walsh
The God Who Hears by W. Bingham Hunter
The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo
Help Thanks Wow by Anne Lamott
His Princess: Love Letters from your King by Sheri Rose Shepherd
How to Hear From God by Joyce Meyer
In the Arms of Angels by John Wester Anderson
Jesus > Religion by Jefferson Bethke
Jesus Wants to Save Christians by Rob Bell
The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer
Lady in Waiting by Debby Jones
Listening to Love by Jan Meyers
Love Does by Bob Goff & Donald Miller
The Love Languages of God by Gary D. Chapman
Love Wins by Rob Bell
Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller
Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman
One Thousand Gifts (with devo) by Ann Voskamp
The Power of a Praying Woman by Stormie Omartian
Praying God's Word by Beth Moore
Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander, M.D.
Radical by David Platt
Sex God by Rob Bell
The Shack by Wm. Paul Young
The Shelter of God's Promises by Sheila Walsh
Stories Behind Women of Extraordinary Faith by Ace Collins
Twelve Extraordinary Women by John MacArthur
Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell
Waking Up in Heaven by Alex Tresniowski
What Happens When Women Say Yes to God by Lysa TerKeurst
What We Talk About When We Talk About God by Rob Bell
Wild at Heart by John Eldredge

Joining a Christian Group on Campus

Growth Group BBQ

Who: Myself & College Life
What: Joining a Christian Group
Where: UC Davis
When: Spring Quarter 2013
From: 101 List #2

For a long time now, I've been wanting to get connected with a Christian group on campus. My faith is the most important thing in my life, but my health had been holding me back from joining. I was finally feeling better this quarter, so no longer had an excuse. Halfway through the quarter, I emailed a girl asking if I could join her Growth Group (like a Bible Study), and it went from there!

I emailed Evelyn on Monday (April 22) and the next day met someone else from College Life. Clara and I decided to study at Starbucks (which we never do) and had to sit outside (there were no tables inside), and there we overheard a conversation. After eavesdropping for a few minutes, I turned around and informed them that I was doing that, and asked if they were apart of College Life - they were! We talked for a little bit and he mentioned Spring Retreat which was the following weekend. That night, I received an email from the coordinator and then paid at my first growth group meeting.

Timeline:

1) emailed Evelyn about Growth Group on Monday, April 22

2) met Zach on Tuesday, April 23

3) went to Growth Group & paid for retreat on Wednesday, April 24

4) left for Spring Retreat (with complete strangers) on Friday, April 26 - Sunday April 28

Going on Spring Retreat, despite it being so far outside my comfort zone, was the best decision! My faith was encouraged, the speaker was incredible, and that weekend solidified my feeling that College Life was where God wanted me.

Growth Group became the highlight of my quarter. The women were great! My friends from high school are some of the most wonderful, Godly women that I have ever met, and this group reminded me so much of them! They made me feel so welcomed and loved, and taught me so much and brought me closer to the Lord in such a small amount of time! I am so unbelievably grateful to have spent the second half of spring quarter with them and cannot wait for next year!

Spring Retreat - the Juniors

Where in the world have I been?

It has been almost a year since I have written on this blog! This past year of school has been beyond crazy and I just haven't had time. However, as of yesterday, summer vacation has arrived! This summer I will continually be updating this blog, getting back to sharing what I love.

Over this quarter, as I was reviewing my 101 Things list, it occurred to me how much has changed and how my goals have changed. Because of that, I have decided to start another 101 Things list. I will still work on my original one, but will now have even more things to do. Some of the goals crossover onto both lists because they are still very much goals of mine, but many are completely new! To check out this list, go here!

As I begin another chapter of my life, I welcome you to come along for the journey!

xo Ainsley

Reflection Day 1:

I've had this idea saved on my computer for more than a month, and I'm finally going to start it! A few months ago I did the 30 day photo challenge and totally enjoyed myself, so when I found this on Pretty Random Things, I knew I had to try it!

So what is it you ask? 60 Days of Reflection! It's 60 days full of questions and photos to share with your readers. I, myself, love this kind of thing!

And so it begins...

Day 1: Photo of yourself with 10 facts!

1. I am completely obsessed with earrings! Anytime I go into Forever 21, I can't help but head straight to the jewelry section to scope out the best earrings. I just recently bought this earring holder that holds 96 pairs and it rotates so you can see them all - I'm in love!

2. I keep a prayer journal. I love having a way to keep track of my prayers and the things that are happening in my life that feel important enough to share with the Lord on paper. It's so nice to look back and see how my faith in the Lord has progressed and how He's blessed me over the years.

3. I speak to my dogs like they're people. I have two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (named Kinchie and Whinnie) and I love them more than life itself. They are the sweetest, funniest, cutest dogs on the planet, and I can't help but talk to them like they're real people, not dogs who just stare at me.

4. One of my biggest fears is that I won't have my proposal photographed. I document every moment of my life, so missing this huge moment (and honestly, all the cute looks we'll give each other) would make me SO sad!

5. I live on bagels and english muffins. When your stomach is upset, there's not much you want to eat, but I can always get on board to eat one of those!

6. I absolutely love to plan things! I plan simple get-togethers, New Years parties, Christmas parties, pool parties - anything you can think of to get my friends together. (:

7. My sister is my best friend. Up until about grade 9, I didn't like her very much (I was actually quite mean). However, when we moved to San Jose and I was super sick, she became the only person I could hang out with, and that's when I realized how freaking awesome she is!

8. I have no thyroid. When I was 17, I had it removed due to a very rare form of thyroidism. I now have a very small scar (you can barely see it!) on my neck and take thyroid meds during the week.

9. One of my biggest pet peeves is when people wear sunglasses inside. You're inside, why must you wear SUNglasses?

10. I am Canadian! I lived there until I was 8, then moved to Southern California, then back to Canada when I was 11, and to Northern California when I was 14. We used to go back every year for Christmas, but now we go back in the summer for longer. It will always be my home. (:

How to Throw a Bachelorette Party...When you're Under 21

This past Saturday I attended my friend Kellen's bachelorette party and had a blast! I'm not going to lie, though, before I went I thought, "what can we possibly do for a bachelorette party when we're not 21?" but was pleasantly surprised.

Our Day:

Beach Time:

Our beautiful bachelorette, Kellen:

My way of adding a bit of "dirty" into her day - Penis Jigglers:

Playing in the Waves:

The maid of honour, Kyla, made us all "Team Bride" shirts that we wore to see Magic Mike (our way of giving Kellen strippers without actually giving her strippers):

Off to Dinner where we gave Kellen some sexy things, including penis rings:

And that, my friends, is how you throw a bachelorette party when you can't get into bars!

July Goals

It may be a week late, but I've officially made my July goals!

Go to Bible Study every week.

Work out every other day.

Start blogging regularly.

Host a tea party.

Finish my online classes (the 2 that end in July) strong.

Play with chalk with my friends.

Focus on my relationship with the Lord.

Follow the study schedule I set up for myself.

Finish organizing my scrapbooking supplies.

Buy a pair of high-waisted jean shorts!

June Goals: Update

Get at least a 2.5 GPA for Spring quarter.

Calculus kicked my butt; I failed it. This led to getting below a 2.5, which is so sad! But it led to my decision that I'm in the wrong major, so something sure came of it!

Go on a road-trip with Daphne and Kristina to Oregon.

This was SO MUCH FUN! We took 13 hours to drive to Eugene from San Jose, stopping in fun little places and then spent 4 days there with Kristina before driving home.

Catch up on my Daily Reflection devotionals.

I tried to do this, but it just didn't go that well. I would really love to spend time just reading my devotionals and truly immerse myself in the teachings of the Word.

Go paintballing with friends.

Also didn't do this. I'm planning on finding a weekend to finally do this, though! I've already bought the tickets!

Send 5 postcards via postcrossing.com.

Did this! I wrote to 5 different people in 5 different countries! Totally cool!

Start reading again.

I bought 3 books at Powell's books in Portland, but have yet to read them. I've been reading an insane amount for my summer classes, though! That kind of counts, right?

Bake something new.

DID THIS! In fact, I baked two new things! Kristina, Daphne, and I spent a rainy day baking - we had a blast and they were super yummy treats!

Take my sister out for a congratulatory afternoon.

Haven't done this either, however, plan on making an invitation to take her out for later in the month.

Host a high school reunion with my friends.

Kind of had this. I've seen everyone but one person who is home for the summer, but have only seen them in small groups. I've planned a beach trip for Friday, though, so I planned it in June but am accomplishing it in July.

Clean out my closet/room and donate all unused items.

I got rid of so many clothes! My closet is all organized by colour and it looks so pretty. My room, however, looks like a bomb went off. I plan on fixing that, though.